Improvement in preserving jars and cans



'UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRESERVlNG JARS ANU CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,9749, dated November 1S, 1862.

To all whom it 179,601/ ('clace'n/s Beit known that I, GEO. S. G. SPENCE, of the city of Salem, inthe county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new a-nd useful Devices for the Construction of Fruit J ars or Gans; and I hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and references marked thereon.

Figure l represents an elevation of the upper part ofthe jar with its cap and the clalnp in place; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the axis and parallel to it. Fig. 3 is a section through the axis ofthe concave-convex cap or cover of the jar. Fig. 4: is the heating-iran for assisting in the sealing. Fig. 5 is a top view of the cap. Fig. 6 is a top view of the jar. Fig. 7 is apiece of wire to put under the side ofthe cover G.

Similar figures and letters referto sa inc parts in the several drawings.

A represents the sides of the bod;T of the jar in its upper part; B, the neck part of the jar; C, the concavo-eonvex cover; c, the flange or rini of cap; D, the india-rubber gasket. E is the heating-iron used in sealing the j ar; e, the handle of heater; j", convex bottom adapted to the concavity of the cap, also that of stand 1,- f/ g, the screw-holes for receiving the screw of handle c. F is the clamp; j, the notches or depressions in the riin of the cap to receive clanip /,notches or channels on the two sides of neck B; fm, inclines or shoulders for receiving hooks of clamp; G, a piece of wire used to slip under the side of cover C, to allow the escape of air.

The nature of the invention consists iu. the construction of a peculiar cap of the jar, niade concave on the upper surface and convex on the under surface, together with a peculiar form of heater adaptable thereto, as well as to plane caps.

\Vith all the attention and ingenuity thus far expended on the fastenings of preserve cans or jars, and the construction made with reference thereto, there still reina-in considerable defects. There is a want or" some contrivance to displace the air usually left between the cap and the fruit in the jar. There is also a want of some suitable means adapted to sealing jars that have becoine cold before sealing or such as have failed to be effectually sealed on the first attempt.

I profess to have made an invention that covers both of these points, and proceed to explain it.

In filling preserve-jars a space, more or less, is usually left between the surface of the liquid and the cover when placed on the jar. In 0rder to exclude the air from this space, the usual niode is to place the jar in water and then raise the temperature of the water to the boilingpoint. This method occasions delay and requires contrivances and vessels adapted to the size of the jar and appliances for heating water, and, in line, niuch paraphernalia of apparatus and expense. To obviate the diiiiculties attending this method of working, I construct iny jar-cover convex on the under side to dip down into the neck of the jar, and thus fills up the space usually filled with air. The upper side ofthe cover is concave, and has the same curve as the convex bottolnf of theheater E, and is therefore adaptable to it.

If', now, the jar be nearly filled with the fruit and sirup, 'c., and the convexe-concave cover C be dropped into its place, having its gasket D also in place, the heater, already suitably warmed, is set into the cover and soon warms it sufficientlyto expel all the remaining air and fill said space with vapor arising from the surface of the liquid by ineans of the heater.

For Vfacilitating the escape of air, a piece of wire, G, is slipped under one side of the rim c of the covcr,`so as to raise it slightly. Vhen the air has been thus eifectually expelled, the wire is withdrawn, the sealing-iron is removed, the clamp put on by entering it into the notches or slots in the riin c, and at the same time the hooks of the clamp into the channels f on the two sides of the neck I3, and the clamp-hooks with the cover turned around against the under surface of the inclines fm until the cover is firmly secured by a uniform pressure against the gasket. In this way jars or cans may be most effectually sealed, not only when the contents may be below the boiling-point, but even when the contents of the jar are actually cold. The heating up of the upper surface only lof the contents of the jar is a part of the operation of which iny apparatus is susceptible, and constitutes a valuable aid in fruit-1; reserving.

It niust be obvious that the depressed cover secures a special advantage when the contents of the jars are put up more or less hea-ted. In this case the jars may be filled, then placing on the cover7 the liquid in the jur is depressed and forced up the convex sides of the cover, driving out the air before it. In this way every particle of tir may be excluded, so that y not a single bubble will rise on inverting` the jar. Consequently7 as the contents cool and contract, the small space left under the @over will be free from air and a. Vacuum.

It will also be observed that the construction of the hesiter is such that being tapped at either end the handle may be unscrewed from its present position and screwed in at the convex end7 and is adaptable as :t heater to plane covers as well as to convex ones.

Having described the nature of the inven- 

